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SANY Group Makes Historic Debut on the 2025 World’s Top 500 Brands List

SHANGHAI, Feb. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SANY Group, a leading construction machinery manufacturer, has made history by securing the 468th position on the prestigious 2025 World’s Top 500 Brands list, as revealed by the GYBrand Global Brand Research Institute. This marks SANY’s first-ever appearance on the esteemed list, distinguishing it as the only engineering machinery company to be included. This achievement underscores SANY’s position as a frontrunner in the global business landscape.

Rising Influence in Global Brand Rankings­­

The 2025 list features brands from 207 cities across 33 countries, with 76 Chinese brands (including those from Hong Kong and Taiwan) representing 15.2% of the total. SANY’s inclusion highlights China’s growing competitiveness in the global economy and its ability to nurture world-class brands. The GYBrand evaluation process is thorough, assessing brands based on financial performance, brand strength, contribution, and sustainability. SANY’s ranking reflects not only its robust market performance but also its brand influence and commitment to sustainable business practices. This comprehensive approach ensures the list captures the full scope of modern brand value.

As a globally recognized brand valuation agency, GYBrand is esteemed as one of the top five institutions in the field, known for its meticulous and transparent evaluation methods. BRAND WEEKLY has lauded GYBrand as the most influential Chinese brand valuation institution, further underscoring the credibility of the rankings. This endorsement solidifies the significance of SANY’s inclusion in the list and reinforces the reliability and authority of the rankings.

SANY’s Global Vision and Strategic Growth

SANY Group has long adhered to its mission of “Quality Changes the World,” driving its strategies in globalization, digitalization, and low-carbon development. With a presence in over 180 countries and regions, SANY has firmly established itself as a global leader in its sector. Its debut on the World’s Top 500 Brands list serves as a testament to its successful international expansion and rising brand prominence.

Looking ahead, SANY is committed to continuing its brand-building efforts and leveraging its global reach to drive sustainable growth. As Chinese brands gain increasing recognition worldwide, SANY remains dedicated to excellence and innovation, positioning itself for even greater achievements in the global marketplace.

Action plan 8.0 to inject more vitality into Shanghai

SHANGHAI, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from english.shanghai.gov.cn

The latest business environment improvement action plan released in Shanghai on Feb 5 will help the city better address market entities’ needs and inject more vitality into the city’s economic growth, said officials and market experts.

Their comments were made on Feb 5 when the Shanghai municipal government held the business environment improvement work conference for the eighth consecutive year. The latest action plan, which is now in its eighth edition, was released during the conference.

The plan aims to enhance the sense of gain among enterprises by coming up with 58 detailed measures which are more substantial and down-to-earth, according to Lu Aiguo, head of the business environment construction division at the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

One focus of the new plan is deepening the reform by aligning with the standards specified in World Bank’s Business Ready evaluation system, said Lu. Ten related reform measures have been rolled out, covering market entry, operational venues, infrastructure, utilities, international trade and market competition, among others.

As to international trade, Shanghai will expand the benefit scope for controlled and inspected high-tech goods. The import pilot program for research and development as well as testing items should be further optimized. Customs clearance facilitation services will be improved by better implementing reform measures such as multi-modal transport and the application of electronic certificates, according to the new action plan.

Another 24 measures have been included in action plan 8.0 to optimize the all-round services rendered to companies. On the one hand, more innovative financing products should be introduced, providing continued financing support to small and medium-sized enterprises.

On the other, more efforts should be made to facilitate the outbound reaches of domestic companies while further opening up the local market. Professional service providers will be supported to set up branches in the markets involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Meanwhile, visas as well as entry and exit services for foreign talent will be more convenient. More foreign-invested projects should be introduced in the city and major foreign-invested projects should be settled at a faster pace, according to the new action plan.

Japanese carmaker Toyota announced on Feb 5 that it has entered into an agreement with the Shanghai government to establish a new wholly-owned company in Jinshan district of Shanghai for the development and production of Lexus electric vehicles and batteries.

The advanced and mature industrial chains, logistics networks, talent supply and market size in Shanghai and the neighboring cities are the major reasons to land this new project, according to Toyota.

To improve services provided to companies, efforts will be made to promulgate a negative list for cross-border data flow within the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, according to the new action plan.

Companies will be better guided to conduct data export activities in accordance with laws and regulations. This is conducive to companies’ international competitiveness, said Huang Lina, an official from the internet security division at Shanghai Cyberspace Administration.

The new action plan also includes 14 measures to optimize supervision over companies.

According to Wu Beibei, deputy director of the laws and regulations division at Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation, the targets, frequency and content of on-site inspections will be reduced to lower the impact on companies. The goal is to lower the number of planned administrative on-site inspections in the next two to three years, she said.

For more information:

https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-BusinessEnvironment/index.html

Climate Crisis in Laos: Heatwaves Threaten Agriculture and Public Health

Heatwave impacting people.

Despite enduring one of the coldest winters in years, Laos continues to grapple with the lasting effects of the past years of severe heatwaves.

Turfan, Xinjiang: Deployment of a High-Throughput Satellite Station in the Power Grid

TURFAN, China, Feb. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On February 8, State Grid Turfan Power Supply Company successfully commissioned a Ka-band high-throughput satellite portable station after multiple rounds of rigorous testing. Compared to traditional wide-beam communication satellites, this new technology offers more than fivefold improvements in transmission bandwidth and speed, significantly enhancing data transmission for various power grid services.

The high-throughput emergency satellite system is specifically designed for emergency response scenarios, including natural disasters and other critical situations. It provides reliable communication services in challenging environments. The portable station equipment weighs only 14 kilograms, making it easily transportable by a single individual. Within 10 minutes of deployment, it can restore normal communication for on-site equipment, reducing emergency response times by up to 30%.

In recent years, State Grid Turfan Power Supply Company has actively enhanced its emergency communication support capabilities. The company has tested the performance of high-throughput satellite portable stations in diverse environments, including urban areas and Gobi deserts. Various application scenarios have been evaluated, such as line-of-sight transmission and building occlusion, to comprehensively assess the integrated satellite communication system’s data transmission and response capabilities.

To date, two sets of Ka-band high-throughput satellite stations operated by State Grid Turfan Power Supply Company have provided rescue communication support. These stations have cumulatively transmitted 120GB of data, with a peak rate of up to 20 Mbps per station, and signal coverage extending over 100 kilometers.

Xthings’ ULTRALOQ Bolt Mission Secures Three Awards at CES 2025 Including The Official 2025 Best of CES Award

Hands-free Technology Praised by Disability Advocates as an Advancement in Accessibility

FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Xthings, a global leader in IoT solutions, secured three awards for innovations in ULTRALOQ Bolt Mission, the world’s first smart lock with Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest tech trade fair. The innovative lock impressed media and influencers, securing three awards including The Official 2025 Best of CES Award from the CNET group and two additional awards from Tom’s Guide for “Best Smart Locks of CES 2025” and The Ambient for “Best in Show.


Hands-free Technology Praised by Disability Advocates as an Advancement in Accessibility

Additionally, the lock was applauded by disability advocates which cited the hands-free lock as an advancement in smart lock accessibility as it does not require interaction with a touchscreen or smartphone and can be automatically unlocked reliably and precisely from a distance using UWB technology.

Timothy Hornik, of Lions Services, a 90-year old Charlotte-based non-profit organization that empowers blind and visually impaired individuals to achieve personal and economic independence, explained, “As a blind individual, it’s hard to find a good smart home lock because so many have a touchscreen—an inaccessible type of interface I cannot access. By having something that works completely synchronously with my phone, as I am approaching the lock, to unlock itself the way Bolt Mission lock does, is absolutely fantastic.”

Anat Nulman, Founder of Assistive Consulting, which helps companies bring assistive technology to market, was also excited by Bolt Mission’s design. “I was really excited to learn about Bolt Mission because I love mainstream technology that is designed in a way that can help anybody regardless of whether they have a disability or not,” said Nulman. “Having a touchless interface is really beneficial for people that physically or cognitively cannot access lock interfaces.”

Raul Espino, chief executive officer of Accessible Destinations, which helps plan accessible vacations, found Bolt Mission’s ability to unlock at a distance without having to get as close as you would with an NFC device particularly useful for individuals in wheelchairs. “It’s great for people with disabilities because we just put our phone on our wheelchair and it unlocks when we get close to the door lock,.” said Espino.

“The feedback we’ve received from the disabled community exemplifies how hands-free design can vastly improve the everyday lives of disabled users,” said Matthew Brown, Chief Strategy Officer of Xthings. “Xthings is committed to using enabling technologies like Ultra-Wideband for new applications to create seamless and inclusive solutions that work for all users.”

About Xthings Inc.

Xthings Inc. has driven advancements in IoT technology since its founding. With a track record of innovation in smart security, Xthings aims to improve quality of life, accelerate AIoT industry growth, and promote the intelligent transformation of society.

About ULTRALOQ

ULTRALOQ, a best-selling smart lock brand under Xthings, is dedicated to developing innovative and secure smart access solutions. With a focus on blending cutting-edge technology with convenience, ULTRALOQ’s products are designed to provide a secure and keyless entry experience for both homes and businesses, making smart security more accessible than ever.

Zimbabwe Government Honours its Commitment to Compensate Investors Under Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs)

The payments to farm owners under BIPPA-protection marks a historic milestone and a critical step in Zimbabwe’s Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process


HARARE, ZIMBABWE – EQS Newswire – 8 February 2025 – The Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe is honouring its commitment to compensate investors protected by Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs), whose investments were affected by the Land Reform Programme in 2000. This follows the disbursement of funds from the US$20 million allocated for the compensation of BIPPA-protected farms in the 2024 National Budget.

The payments to farm owners under BIPPA-protection marks a historic milestone and a critical step in Zimbabwe’s Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process.

Providing an update on the payments, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Honourable Professor Mthuli Ncube stated, “I am pleased to announce that the compensation process has begun. We believe that this process is crucial for building trust, honouring our commitments, and ensuring consistency with our Constitution as we address Zimbabwe’s debt challenge.”

The payments towards the compensation of investors under BIPPA protection began in the second week of January 2025. Payments are being made to the claimants’ Bank accounts of choice.

Only claimants from countries with BIPPAs signed and ratified before the 2000 Land Reform Programme are eligible for compensation. 94 farms were approved for compensation. The claimants are from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and former Yugoslavia.

The Harare-based ambassadors of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland jointly welcomed the announcement: “The framework established by the Government of Zimbabwe leading to the full compensation of affected BIPPA farmers protected by Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements, is indeed a historic achievement. We commend the Government’s allocation of funds in the National Budget as of 2024 to make the compensation a reality. Several affected investors have received initial payouts, and an emerging sense of closure exists. It marks a significant milestone, and we consider it a very encouraging step towards a comprehensive and fair settlement for farmers and investors in Zimbabwe, be it in terms of financial compensation or land tenure. Now, it is important for the Government to keep this positive momentum.”

The BIPPA farmers are being compensated for land and improvements on the farms in line with Section 295 (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The President of the African Development Bank Group and the Champion of the Zimbabwe Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution, Dr Akinwumi Adesina said, “The compensation demonstrates the Government’s goodwill and commitment to building trust in the process and improving investor confidence in the country. The progress Zimbabwe has made, the commitment and resilience it is showing, calls for support from development partners to facilitate the country’s effort in implementing on going reforms and to provide the much-needed cushion to particularly the vulnerable members of the population.”

The compensation of these investors is one of the key reforms under the Structured Dialogue Platform on the country’s Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process. Zimbabwe aims to clear its arrears, resolve debt, and unlock new concessional external financing to achieve its development goals. The Government established in December 2022, a Structured Dialogue Platform (SDP) with all its creditors and development partners, to institutionalise engagement on economic and governance reforms to underpin the Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process.

The Resolution of BIPPA-protected farms is under the auspices of one of the three Sector Working Groups (SWG) of the country’s Structured Dialogue Platform for Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process. It falls under the Land Tenure Reforms, Compensation for Former Farm Owners, and the Resolution of BIPPAs SWG. This SWG is co-chaired by the Office of the President and Cabinet, Switzerland and the United Nations Development Programme. The other two SWGs are Economic Growth and Stability Reforms, and Governance Reforms.

At the last High-Level SDP Meeting held in Harare on 25 November 2024, His Excellency, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, reiterated the Government’s ownership of the Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process, and his commitment to the implementation of reforms underpinning the Process, in line with the country’s National Development Strategy 1.

The resolution of BIPPAs is also part of the country’s engagement and re-engagement initiatives with the international community.

After disbursing the US$20 million from the 2024 National Budget for BIPPA-protected farms, the remaining US$125.9 million will be paid over four years (2025 to 2028) through annual fiscal allocations. Additionally, the Government has allocated another US$20 million in the 2025 National Budget for this purpose.

Table 1: Approved BIPPA Farms for Compensation

Country Number of Farms Approved for Compensation Farmers Value (US$ millions)
Denmark 6 5 13.4
Germany 14 7 14.0
Netherlands 46 33 88.2
Switzerland 27 10 27.0
Former Yugoslavia 1 1 3.3
Total 94 56 145.9

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Caption for Images: Sixth High-Level Structured Dialogue Platform on Zimbabwe’s Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process held in the country’s capital, Harare in November 2024

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Video Caption: Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Honourable Professor Mthuli Ncube Speaks about Compensation of Investors under Bippa-protection

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Keymed Biosciences Announces Approval of Stapokibart For the Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

CHENGDU, China, Feb. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — KeyMed Biosciences (HKEX: 02162) today announced the National Medical Products Administration (the “NMPA“) of China has recently approved the supplemental New Drug Application (the “sNDA“) of Stapokibart (anti-IL-4Rα monoclonal antibody, trade name: Kangyueda (康悦达), for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The approval is based on a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study to confirm the efficacy and safety of Stapokibart injection in treatment of adult patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis who are poorly controlled with nasal corticosteroids or other therapies. The study findings demonstrate that during the pollen season, in comparison with the standard treatment group, which consists of nasal spray hormones combined with antihistamine drugs, the administration of Stapokibart for two weeks effectively controls the typical nasal allergic symptoms of patients, including runny nose, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and sneezing. The least-squares mean (LSMean) of the inter-group difference is -1.3, and its 95% confidence interval (CI) is also -1.3, indicating a highly significant statistical difference (P = 0.0008). This difference far exceeds the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 0.23, clearly demonstrating substantial clinical benefits. Moreover, Stapokibart can effectively alleviate ocular allergic symptoms such as eye itching or burning, eye tearing or watering, and eye redness. It comprehensively enhances the quality of life of patients and exhibits excellent safety.

About Stapokibart

Stapokibart is a high-efficient, humanized antibody targeting the interleukin-4 receptor alpha subunit (IL-4Rα), and is the first domestically manufactured IL-4Rα antibody drug granted marketing approval by the NMPA. By targeting IL-4Rα, Stapokibart can block both interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) signaling. IL-4 and IL-13 are two key cytokines that trigger type II inflammation. Stapokibart has demonstrated good safety and encouraging efficacy in multiple previous clinical trials, and its treatment of the indication of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults and the indication of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis have been approved for marketing in September 2024 and December 2024, respectively.

About Keymed Biosciences

Keymed Biosciences Inc. (HKEX: 02162) focuses on the urgent unmet clinical needs, and is committed to providing high-quality, affordable, innovative therapies for patients in China and overseas. Keymed was founded by medical and scientific experts who have strong experience in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements to commercialization at home and abroad.

ZK International Postpones Shareholder Call

WENZHOU, China, Feb. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ZK International Group Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: ZKIN) (“ZK International” or the “Company”), a leading engineering Company focused on high-performance steel products, announces that its previously scheduled shareholder conference call, originally planned for February 7, 2025, has been cancelled and the company will reschedule the event at a later date.

The Company remains committed to providing its shareholders and interested parties with the most comprehensive and up-to-date insights into its strategic initiatives, financial performance, and future growth plans. The postponement will allow the Company to incorporate additional significant developments into the discussion, ensuring a more valuable and informative experience for attendees.

For more information please visit www.ZKInternationalGroup.com. Additionally, please follow the Company on TwitterFacebookYouTube, and Weibo. For further information on the Company’s SEC filings please visit www.sec.gov.

About ZK International Group Co., Ltd.:

ZK International Group Co., Ltd. is a China-based engineering company building and investing in innovative technologies for the modern world. With a focus on designing and implementing next-generation solutions through industrial, environmental and software engineering, ZKIN owns 28 patents, 21 trademarks, 2 Technical Achievement Awards, and 10 National and Industry Standard Awards.  

ZKIN’s core business is to engineer and manufacture patented high-performance stainless steel and carbon steel pipe products that effectively deliver high quality, highly-sustainable and environmentally sound drinkable water to the Chinese, Asia and European markets.  ZK International is Quality Management System Certified (ISO9001), Environmental Management System Certified (ISO1401), and a National Industrial Stainless Steel Production Licensee.  It has supplied stainless steel pipelines for over 2,000 projects, which include the Beijing National Airport, the “Water Cube” and “Bird’s Nest”, which were venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  ZK International is preparing to capitalize on the $850 Billion commitment made by the Chinese Government to improve the quality of water, which has been stated to be 70% unfit for human contact.  

Safe Harbor Statement 

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “estimate” or “continue” or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of ZK International.  Actual results may differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties, as well as other risk factors that are included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although ZK International believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized.  In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by ZK International or any other person that their objectives or plans will be achieved. ZK International does not undertake any obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.